As an ecologist and biodiversity researcher and recorder, the author visits a wide range of rural and urban habitats mainly close to his home in Sedlescombe near Hastings, East Sussex, UK. The weblog covers the full spectrum of wildlife, from mammals to microbes. As well as details of encounters with England’s flora and fauna, information on where to see species of interest is often given.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

While inspecting a fuchsia plant in the garden today I spotted a young hawk moth caterpillar. It was an elephant hawk, a species that often feeds on fuchsia rather than rosebay willowherb.

Soon it will change into the dark brown, eyed creature with the vaguely elephantine appearance that gives the species its name.

I am pleased to have found this as the elephant hawk adult is not the sort of moth that comes to lighted windowpanes and I don't think I have ever found caterpillars in the garden, though the moth was not infrequent years ago when I ran a light trap.